Mayor Steve Noble will face a challenger for the Democratic Party nomination as he seeks a third four year term in office. On Thursday, entrepreneur and community organizer Frank Waters announced that he would seek the Democratic and Working Families Party lines.

“With your support, I am confident that we can make history as I seek to become the first African American Mayor of New York’s first capital,” said Waters in a three minute video address posted on social media. “Together, we can create a Kingston where everyone is included and all people have a seat at the table. Lets re-shift our priorities and ensure that we’re acting as one true community.”

Waters is a Bronx native who has called Kingston home for the past ten years. During that time he has become a familiar face in activist and community building circles. Waters is a co-founder and Executive Director of My Kingston Kids which sponsors youth-oriented events and the city’s first Halloween Parade. Waters serves on the board of Kingston Midtown Rising and is Director of Marketing and Communications for Harambee Kingston, a civic group which led the restoration of the Pine Street African Burial Ground.

Waters entry into the race marks the first time Noble has faced a primary challenge since 2015 when he wrested the Democratic Party line from incumbent Mayor Shayne Gallo before going on to win the general election. Noble holds the endorsement of the Kingston Democratic Committee which nominated him for a third term at a convention last month. Registered Democrats hold an absolute majority on Kingston’s voter rolls, outnumbering Republicans and non-party enrolled voters combined. The winner of the June 27 Democratic Party primary will hold a potentially decisive advantage going into the November general election. Republicans have not yet advanced a candidate for any city office.

In an emailed statement to Kingston Wire on Friday, Noble said that he would run on his own accomplishments during his seven years in office.

“I have led this city through both difficult and exciting times, meeting the growing needs of our residents and businesses during an unprecedented pandemic. I have accomplished this through proactive and professional management of our city, aggressively finding solutions to our affordable housing crisis, revitalizing our main thoroughfares and vital infrastructure while making our city more walkable,” said Noble. “These are just some of the things I will be talking about as I meet with the people I have been so fortunate to serve. I look forward to a robust debate regardless of who decides to enter into the race in the weeks and months ahead.”